The Houston Astros activated superstar slugger Yordan Alvarez from the injured list after he missed 100 games and over three months due to a hand injury.
His return to the lineup is a huge boost for the Astros, especially amid the team’s tightly contested race for the AL West division title with the Seattle Mariners. With Isaac Paredes out for the year, the Astros could use all the help they can get offensively.
However, in an article from Chandler Rome of The Athletic, an answer from Alvarez on his status after his hand injury is a little more worrisome than normal. While he’s back, Alvarez might not be at 100 percent just yet.
Yordan Alvarez Might Not Be 100 Percent Healthy
With Alvarez called up to the Majors for the first time since early May, he was asked how he was feeling health-wise. Specifically, Alvarez was asked how his hand injury was treating him. His answer didn’t provide a clear answer.
“Right now,” Alvarez said, “I’m here. I feel like that’s a good signal, something good to show. It says a lot that I’m active for tonight, and it justifies everything I’ve been going through.”
Getting Alvarez back in the lineup is a plus, as it means the Astros and Alvarez believe he’s ready to go. However, between the Astros’ issues with injuries all year and this comment from Alvarez, there is some lingering concern that he’s not 100 percent healthy.
During his rehab assignment in Double-A, Alvarez had 15 at-bats. While there were no setbacks during those at-bats, the fact that Alvarez didn’t confirm that his hand injury was past him is something to monitor.
MORE: Astros get Yordan Alvarez back in lineup for first time in 100 games
It wouldn’t be the first time an Astros player was brought back early this season. Jake Meyers, who suffered a calf injury, was back in the lineup after just a few games out. He went down on his way to the outfield and has been out since the first week of July.
While Alvarez will likely be fine, there’s still lingering concern that he might not be the same hitter he once was. Across the last four seasons, he had a .988 OPS. This season, he has a .645 OPS.
He’s played just one game since returning from a three-plus-month-long absence. While he could prove his hand injury is behind him by his production, the lack of a clear answer is somewhat of a concern.
Alvarez has been one of the best sluggers in baseball since the start of the decade, and a return to form in the final month of the 2025 season wouldn’t be out of question. But if his hand injury is still affecting him, he could struggle to be the difference maker he was previously in his big league career.
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